When I heard, about a month ago, that Glyndebourne were proposing to stage a chamber opera in their garden – I thought…. Why not in my garden too? I had been wanting to do something for my long suffering neighbours who have put up with a horrible amount of building noise all summer – and a small concert in the garden seemed like a possible peace offering.
Happily, very soon after I had this thought, I also had an email from Madeleine Mitchell, the wonderful violinist who sparked my whole Salon idea. She was following up on a suggestion I had made way back early in lock down about recording some work. Deprived of all performance and teaching for five months, Madeleine had put together a solo recital. She was very excited by the thought that she might have a real live audience to play to – even if there were no more than a dozen of us in my garden…..
….and if her stage would be some scaffolding!
In fact, the scaffold was a great success providing her with a perfect accoustic environment for a violin. Madeleine played us Bach and a collection of contemporary pieces, one of which had been written for her for a lockdown album. Below are selected pieces from her recital – I hope you enjoy them as much as we all did.
(If you want to see the video and hear their music you will need to click onto the blog as the email notification does not include the video.)
Inspired by the success of Madeleine’s recital, I have now booked the jazz group from Live at the Log for the evening of either the 9th or the 16th September, depending on the weather. And I am talking to some of our artists from last summer about the possibility of running some socially distanced salons over the winter. Once we have to be inside we are really restricted to an audience of 10. But, as I am sure everyone will agree, live music with only an audience of 10 is so much better than no live music at all – and at least it is giving the musicians a chance to actually play.
If you are not already on my mailing list and would like to be, please email me or comment on this blog and I will add you so that at least you know what we will be arranging.
Madeleine
Nice concert
Lovely concert programme of contrasts
Derek
What a beautiful recital and a wonderful idea. I hope your neighbours also enjoyed the performance. This has enabled me to view your garden as a entirely unique space. It has the opportunity to be so much more than a lawn and plants x
Thank you Emma – yes the neighbours certainly seemed to enjoy it. Yes, as you know – I have plans for the garden – but I fear they will have to wait the the builders have finished next year.
What an inspired idea! I might do that here if I can pluck up the nerve! How lovely x
Oh do…… It is such fun to do!